'It's not like my ovaries are fighting' - Rousey dismisses age criticism

Ronda Rousey during a news conference to promote her fight with Gina Carano on 16 May

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Ronda Rousey has won 12 of her 14 professional MMA fights

ByPaul BattisonBBC Sport Journalist

Published54 minutes ago

Ronda Rousey has hit back at critics who have questioned her age before her first MMA bout in 10 years against Gina Carano, saying: "It's not like my ovaries are fighting."

The 39-year-old, the first woman to be signed by the UFC in 2012 and one of the biggest MMA stars of all time, will fight fellow American Gina Carano at the Intuit Dome in California on 16 May.

With Carano, 44, competing for the first time in 17 years, critics have questioned how competitive the bout will be.

Rousey pointed to 38-year-old former UFC champion Jon Jones, who last fought 17 months ago, as an example where the same principles are not applied.

"I never hear Jon Jones' age being brought up as a disqualifying factor. Why are we even talking about this?" Rousey told CBS Mornings.

Jones retired in 2025 but UFC president Dana White has shut down repeated questions from journalists in recent months about his potential return.

Rousey defended the UFC bantamweight title six times during a historic reign, but retired in 2016 following defeats by Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes.

Rousey has acknowledged that she was forced to retire because of repeated concussions, and she and Carano will have extra neurological tests before their bout, which will take place under Jake Paul's promotional outfit MVP and be broadcast live on Netflix.

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'This is the biggest fight in MMA right now'

During a news conference last month to promote the fight, Rousey said she wanted to "rewrite her ending" in the sport, criticised the modern UFC and hit back at claims that her encounter with Carano is a "charity" fight.

At a news conference in New York on Wednesday, a typically outspoken and charismatic Rousey expanded on those themes.

She said each fighter on the card would earn a minimum of $40,000 (£29,500) whether they win or lose.

"I hope that everyone sitting here today is getting the biggest pay day of their career, and I hope after this event we can raise that ceiling higher and higher until it is on par with the highest-level boxers, because that is where the holy grail for us is," said Rousey.

Fighter pay has been questioned by athletes and the media recently after boxer Conor Benn secured a reported £11m one-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing.

Zuffa Boxing is owned by UFC president Dana White, and critics have asked why he does not pay similar amounts to his MMA fighters under contract.

The UFC gives about 20% of revenue to fighter pay, compared with boxers' 60%.

Nate Diaz, who fights fellow American Mike Perry on the Rousey card, described the athletes at the news conference, which included Francis Ngannou, as "free fighters".

American Diaz and Cameroon's Ngannou, who is set to face Brazil's Philipe Lins, left the UFC after criticising fighter pay.

"Everybody on this stage is a leader because they took a stand and said 'no' and they're worth more," said Rousey.

"The reason we're all here together is because all of you led the way."

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Randa Rousey (left) has won 12 of 14 professional MMA fights

Pimblett has most potential in UFC - Rousey

Rousey also praised Britain's Paddy Pimblett and took aim at UFC women's bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison.

When she has recovered from neck surgery, American Harrison is predicted to face Brazilian former two-division champion Amanda Nunes in a bout the UFC described as the biggest women's fight in MMA history.

Rousey said her contest with Carano will be bigger and disputed Harrison's star power compared to Pimblett.

"[Harrison] isn't even bigger than Paddy the Baddy," said Rousey.

"He's got more potential than anyone else in the UFC, and he should call me when his contract runs out."

Pimblett, who lost a UFC interim lightweight title fight against Justin Gaethje in January, is arguably Britain's most popular MMA fighter.

He has won seven of his eight UFC bouts since making his debut in 2021.